Sell me on Universal :)

[mommymanda]

I'm a Disney fan, can't really say die hard as we've only been twice. I as the family vacation planner love Disney because it offers something for everyone, we have been able to travel with 'free dining' and with on site trips I can relax and enjoy my vacation as much as everyone else.

Now my plan has been a summer 2016 Disney return with my family of five. Hubby, three kids aged 13y daughter, 7y and 5y sons. I have always thought ahead for Universal, but was figuring when my youngest was around 7-8y so he'd be interested in the more thrilling rides as well.

I've recently started researching a Universal trip for this round instead. My main thought, hubby and eldest love thrill rides and Universal has new ones for them. The younger two and myself are not ride people and whether we are at Disney or Universal that will not change. Some will get tried, most will not.

Universal offers Transformers, Superheros and minions all of which my younger two love. Ride or not we can be immersed somewhat in those worlds...And my oldest plus myself there is Harry Potter!!! Which is what put Universal on my radar years ago in the first place.

So what I've seen so far, comparing on site stay. I can get a 6night stay at universal with the 3day park package for about $700 less than Disney...of course Disney's extra is 2 more park days. So looking at $$ only universal gets it, but not necessarily value wise.

With Disney we've had the free dining luck, we already knew the next trip we are not concerned with having the DDP and would use QS meals whether offered as free or not. I've seen the Universal dining package is not worth the funds, but are meal prices comparable?

What should I research or look into? Where to start? Tips or feedback? This is all new to me and I'm not 100% convinced Universal is the right trip for us yet. Please help me decide

 

[Lynne G]

First, go to Universal's website to see all the rides and shows and layout of the parks are.

Second, check out some of the threads here. We are a friendly bunch.

Third, if you want to see the food offerings, check out the food stickie at the top of this Forum, Damo keeps it generally current.

Lastly, try to stay onsite. Check out the discounts like stay more, save more. It may also want to check out an annual pass or at least one of you have one to get a discount on room rates at the onsite hotels, as sometimes it pays to get a good rate. You can check on the loews website and use the code APH to see if there is an annual pass discounted room. The rates AP rates do sell out, but are often not available until closer to your stay. Keep checking. I have also found a direct call to the onsite hotel to be helpful in finding the best rate for me.

And second last, the best prices usually are not packages, but separately buying discount tickets and room separately. Also, parking is charged at the onsite hotels and no free transportation from and to the airport.

Oh, and welcome! Ask away of us.

 

[kohlby]

We used to do both Disney and US/IOA but it was getting too expensive. Since you've done Disney the last two times, that's reason enough to try out Universal. I totally agree to not look at packages as Universal packages are often more expensive than buying everything separate. Make sure you are on universal's mailing list too - since that might get you a great PIN code sent to you. I got 35% sent to me which helped quite a bit with the hotel price. (I later was sent a 50% off one but with too many restrictions, making it actually cost more than the 50% one). We usually do a split stay - on-site and off-site. That way we get the best of both worlds. RPR is one of the three hotels that gets us the express pass included so we do that one. Also keep in mind that if you stay one night, you get express pass for the day before and the day after - so two days. And note that unlike Disney, US/IOA allows pool hopping. RPR is always the cheapest of the express pass hotels when we go, but we like to hop to HRH's pool.

Universal has a Quick Serve dining plan that you can buy for just one day in the parks and you don't have to buy it for all in your party. It does not make sense for us to use that every day, but we use it on the day we get butterbeer and eat at Three Broomsticks and it saves us quite a bit. (The chicken and rib platter is easy to share. So we did two adult meal plans and shared two of those between the 5 of us. However, that was two years ago so we might have to increase it to 3 this year).

As for going with younger kids, we've always found plenty to do - even when the kids were younger than 5. Our last US/IOA trip was 6 days in the parks and the kids were 4, 7, and 10 and we kept busy. (The 4 year old has sensory issues and refused to do most rides, but we still all managed to have fun).

 

[CodeGoddess]

Been to Universal every year we went since the park opened. Having been to WDW 17 times I will admit I love Universal just as much as I love WDW. Universal caters to older kids and adults, where as Disney is more about the family experience. Universal is a ton of fun but I can't imagine spending a whole vacation on just the two parks unless it was a short trip. We are doing 8 nights and 2 days at universal and 5 at Disney.

 

[Patch'sD]

Front of the Line, No waiting or planning required

 

[epcotty]

Try it out, we like Universal and WDW. I think Universal puts as much effort into everything as Disney and has a lot of really good attractions. meal prices are comparable

 

[mommymanda]

Been to Universal every year we went since the park opened. Having been to WDW 17 times I will admit I love Universal just as much as I love WDW. Universal caters to older kids and adults, where as Disney is more about the family experience. Universal is a ton of fun but I can't imagine spending a whole vacation on just the two parks unless it was a short trip. We are doing 8 nights and 2 days at universal and 5 at Disney.

I am thinking 6night stay. We have a 20 hour drive into Orlando so day one is a write off for arrival. 2 days at Universal, one day at Wet and Wild and than hubby wants to go to Gatorland for an afternoon lol. So it leaves one open day to hang at the resort/pool. Does this seem like it would work?

 

[kohlby]

We did 6 days at US/IOA on our last trip - which was 2 years ago. We'll likely do 6 days in the parks on our upcoming trip as well. So, it is quite possible for people to spend longer than the average in the parks and not run out of things to do too. (And these are kids who refuse to do the water rides even). Undercover tourist has a ticket that is buy 2 days, get the 3rd free quite often. I'd do a minimum of 2 days, but 3 is better so you won't feel rushed. With that ticket, you won't feel bad if you end up not wanting 3 days, but at least you'll have the option.

 

[DisneyOma]

6 night stay, 3 days at the parks, what are you going to do for the other 3 days?

I recommend a split stay - 3 nights at WDW, 3 nights at Universal.

 

[pcstang]

I am thinking 6night stay. We have a 20 hour drive into Orlando so day one is a write off for arrival. 2 days at Universal, one day at Wet and Wild and than hubby wants to go to Gatorland for an afternoon lol. So it leaves one open day to hang at the resort/pool. Does this seem like it would work?

Absolutely! Enjoy the resort!

 

[CodeGoddess]

I am thinking 6night stay. We have a 20 hour drive into Orlando so day one is a write off for arrival. 2 days at Universal, one day at Wet and Wild and than hubby wants to go to Gatorland for an afternoon lol. So it leaves one open day to hang at the resort/pool. Does this seem like it would work?

For sure! If you plan to do some other things besides US/WDW then you will have plenty to entertain you. My dad use to bring us almost every year (he loved WDW and US) but we would go for 7-10 days and do things like the flee market, gatorland, everglades, sea world, bush gardens (is that still there?), etc. There is a ton of stuff to do in the area.

 

[schumigirl]

I am thinking 6night stay. We have a 20 hour drive into Orlando so day one is a write off for arrival. 2 days at Universal, one day at Wet and Wild and than hubby wants to go to Gatorland for an afternoon lol. So it leaves one open day to hang at the resort/pool. Does this seem like it would work?

Absolutely.......we stay for 18 nights every year and never get bored with Universal......you can make it a total vacation destination........

Take time an enjoy the resort too........

 

[wookiebeck]

Remember the old story about interviewing kids on their best memory of a WDW vacation and they say, "swimming in the hotel pool!"? (punctuation?)

Thus an onsite stay at Universal gets you the ability to not just enjoy the resort, but pool hop to the other resorts. Much fun. Easier to schedule than a water park, and just as much family fun and/or down time as you can handle.

We last stayed one week with 4-day passes and 3 days of swimming.

 

[jenr812]

We did 6 days at US/IOA on our last trip - which was 2 years ago. We'll likely do 6 days in the parks on our upcoming trip as well. So, it is quite possible for people to spend longer than the average in the parks and not run out of things to do too. (And these are kids who refuse to do the water rides even). Undercover tourist has a ticket that is buy 2 days, get the 3rd free quite often. I'd do a minimum of 2 days, but 3 is better so you won't feel rushed. With that ticket, you won't feel bad if you end up not wanting 3 days, but at least you'll have the option.

Do you know if this ticket has to be used on 3 consecutive days, or is it good for 14 days?

 

[Jedimom]

Have you ever been to Legoland? What worked out well for my family last year was doing a few days at Universal and one day at Legoland. Legoland catered to my younger kids who don't like the thrill rides; Universal catered to the older. I think if we had just done Universal, my younger ones would have felt cheated. While there are some rides at Universal for the younger set, it's really not a lot.

Now, when the youngers talk about our vacation what they remember is Legoland and "can we go back there?" As for Universal what they liked best was the Mardis Gras parade at night where they threw beads from the floats to kids (highly recommend, if you go at that time of the year, a huge hit for my household). But the older one had nothing to do at Legoland, loved the thrill rides at Universal, and remembers that best.

 

[damo]

Do you know if this ticket has to be used on 3 consecutive days, or is it good for 14 days?

It's good for 14 days.

 

[youngb1978]

We are going to universal for 7 nights next year and I got the 3 park unlimited pass which has wet and wild on it...it was more then the say 3 park to park but we can go to the parks as much as we want. Our plan is some park days at least one day at wet and wild and half day or so at Gatorland. We are staying at cabana bay because we need the family suite and it's the cheapest since we are canadian and have the exchange to deal with. We don't get the express passes but are going a slow time.

 

[Grumpy92]

Have to say I am a US convert. We have had too many issues with WDW the last few visits and we feel we get more bang for your buck at US. The last time we went a family member commented that US is what WDW used to be, Friendly, clean and no extensive planning months in advance.
* Stay onsite. The hotels are wonderful. Not sure when you are going but all the hotels with the exception of CBBR offer an express pass for specific attractions. There are times of the year when they are not needed. You do not have to reserve this 60 days in advance like FP+. We love CBBR. The family suites for the same price as a All Star room and it has a kitchenette.
* CBBR pool areas are incredible, love the lazy river. So if you don't stay there pool hop! We enjoyed the free Italian ices at the RPH pool. Lots of options.
* Restaurant reservations are another thing you do not have to do. Easy to walk into anything.
* As the others have said the packages are expensive, buy separately. Definitely sign up for the newsletter emails. We received a 40% discount for a stay in Dec. via email
* Check out ticket discounts through AAA or Tickets as work. An AP can be beneficial as you get discounts on resorts, food and merchandise. Just need one in your party.
* Enjoy W&W as they will be closing at the end of 2016. Probably your last chance to visit that park.
* Transportation from the resorts is short and easy. We have never had to wait long for a bus or boat. Of course you are so close to everything walking there is easy. You don't have to a lot an hour for transportation time like WDW.